Texas Tech advertising students will host their first fundraiser of the semester on Oct. 16 from noon to 9:30 p.m. at Two Docs Brewing Company, 502 Texas Ave.
The event will include a 5k race, performances by local artists, different food vendors, and more. All donations, as well as 10% of the sales from vendors at the event, will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest – an organization that provides resources to parents who have children who are ill or injured.
Gage Brockman, the organizer for the Harvest Music Festival, said he has been playing music for the past six years and is excited to bring other local musicians out for a good cause. Brockman will be one of four musicians performing throughout the day.
“I understand that being a college student is very time consuming and is also very costly,” Brockman said, “but being able to get out there and give back to the community and seeing that there is a great community to give back to is awesome.”
Brockman said the RMHC of the Southwest is special to him because he personally knows people who have used their services and has seen the difference they make in the lives of the families.
Gage Brockman, organizer and performer at the Harvest Music Festival. (Photo Cred: Gage Brockman)
“It’s more than just benefiting families,” Brockman said. “There is actually people we know and care about behind those faces.”
According to Brockman, Two Docs Brewery has played a huge roll in putting this on, including the payment of the musicians, which helps raise more money for the RMHC of the Southwest.
“We were just blessed in that regard,” Brockman said. “Two Docs was just so giving on that part.”
Cyndie Buckle, the professor for the campaigns class, said this fundraising assignment has taught her students many lessons. She mentioned how her students learned that these fundraisers are valuable for the community, but they can be a challenge to set up.
“He [Gage] definitely understood the assignment,” Buckle said, “which is awesome.”
Lineup for the Harvest Music Festival (Photo Cred: Gage Brockman)
Students were tasked with branding their own fundraisers, and using funds from the RMHC of the Southwest to promote their event. Students use other resources like advertisements on MCTV and flyers around campus to help spread the word. Buckle is also actively looking for more ways to promote these events.
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Buckle said.
Julie Wells, the director of development and communications for the RMHC of the Southwest, said this experience is beneficial for everyone involved. She said the relationship with Texas Tech and it’s students is very important.
“We benefit, the families benefit, and I think the students benefit,” Wells said.
Wells said the RHMC of the Southwest are very grateful for the partnership with Texas Tech, and that it helps spread the mission of the charity. She said the impact of these fundraisers is unmeasurable.
“Getting to have hands-on experience seems to very be valuable to the students,” Wells said.
She also said the RMHC of the Southwest has kept in touch with former students that participated in past fundraisers, and stated it has helped them in their professional careers. She said the best feeling is getting to help the Texas Tech students, but also raise money for families who need it.
Brockman can attest to this point. He said these events take careful planning and persistence, and that he learned many valuable lessons throughout this process.
“Having a vision and trying to follow through on it as much as you can,” Brockman said, “that’s what I would say would be the biggest takeaway from this experience.”
For those who are unable to attend, donations can be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest here.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest & Harvest Music Festival information. (Photo Cred: RMHC Website)
About chancechambers
